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  4. Document 9

751G.92/494

The Department of State to the British Embassy 18

Aide-Mémoire

Reference is made to the British Embassy’s aide-mémoire of January 6, 1941, in regard to the situation in Thailand and French Indochina.

The situation under reference has had the careful and continuing thought of the Government of the United States. This Government shares the view of the British Government that it would be desirable that the dispute between Thailand and French Indochina be settled peacefully and without delay.

In the view of this Government, both Thailand and French Indochina are in positions of insecurity. In both Thailand and French Indochina there is division of counsel and of attitude. As an inescapable background of the present situation in French Indochina there is the fact of the defeat of France by an aggressive Germany. As an inescapable background of the present situation in Thailand there is the fact that a military minded Japan is embarked upon a course of aggression in the Far Eastern area. Given these backgrounds [Page 11] the permanence of any settlement that might be achieved in the near future would be doubtful and the adequacy of any guarantees that might be forthcoming would be questionable.

The Government of the United States recognizes the value of endeavor by diplomatic processes to influence the course of events in directions consistent with this Government’s principles and objectives. This Government concurs in the view of the British Government that a proposal of open mediation by the United States and the British Government would be unlikely to succeed. In view of this belief and taking into account the situation under reference against the background above described, this Government does not perceive what useful contribution along the lines of mediation it could make at the present time. Should negotiations between the two parties be undertaken directly or otherwise and should a situation develop in which the parties might consider that this Government could to advantage offer friendly counsel, this Government would, of course, be prepared to consider such proposal in the light of the attendant circumstances.

Washington , January 10, 1941.
  1. Handed on January 10 to the British Chargé by the Adviser on Political Relations (Hornbeck).↩